# NTSB CEN12CA294: Beckert Bruce A RV-6, N212LB, Au Gres, MI, May 13, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 13, 2012, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Au Gres, MI
- Coordinates: 44, -83.666664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0000&lon=-83.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83631/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83631
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA294

## Probable cause

The pilot’s low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the water.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beckert Bruce A RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=05607S5), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beckert Bruce A RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05607S5), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beckert Bruce A RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05607S5), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot contacted his friend and told him to be at the beach and watch for the airplane. The friend reported that he saw the airplane make about three passes up and down the beach. On the third pass, the airplane made a steep left turn, which the friend believed resulted in a stall. The pilot reported that, as he arrived at the peninsula, he proceeded across the shoreline, crossed the beach, and dropped to an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level. He made a right turn, and then, after passing the bridge, he made a tight left turn and “felt a bump/drop, as if my left wing lost lift.” He leveled off, slightly nose high, and headed in an east to southeast direction. The pilot could not recall any further details of the accident. The airplane impacted just offshore in about 5 feet of water, and the forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The airplane’s sudden wing drop is consistent with an aerodynamic stall.

## Factual narrative

The pilot contacted his friend and told him to be at the beach and watch for the airplane. The friend reported that he saw the airplane make about three passes up-and-down the beach. On the third pass he said the airplane made a steep left turn, which he believed resulted in a stall. The airplane impacted the water, just offshore. Several other witnesses responded and aided in removing the pilot from the airplane and water. The airplane’s forward fuselage was heavily damaged during the impact and came to rest in about 5 feet of water. The pilot reported that as he arrived at the peninsula, he proceeded across the shoreline and then crossed the beach; he dropped to an altitude of approximately 100 feet. He added that he made a right turn, then after passing the bridge, he made a tight left turn and “felt a bump/drop, as if my left wing lost lift”. He added that he leveled off, slightly nose high, and headed in an east, south east direction. The pilot could not recall any further details of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N212LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N212LB), registered now, S/N 20463 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BECKERT BRUCE A RV-6
- Registry model: [Beckert Bruce A RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/beckert-bruce-a-rv-6) (registry code 05607S5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 20463
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 3CM, Bay City, MI
- Destination: Au Gres, MI
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 15 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KOSC, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20120513009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120513009939A), May 13, 2012: Beckert Bruce A RV-6, Au Gres, MI, Substantial damage. On may 13, 2012 at approximately 0946, while flying low level maneuvers along the lake huron shoreline near Au Gres, MI., an amature built RV-6 with a sole…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83631. 8.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Federal Agencies (Interview) (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20%20(Interview)-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo: Damaged airplane (Sheriff photo) (item 5, .PDF, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damaged%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20(Sheriff%20photo)-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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